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Several facilities in the state of Iowa offer horseback riding camps. Most camps are offered in the summer and cater to kids. The camps teach participants how to ride Western and English style and properly care for their horses. The camps also provide plenty of riding time, giving kids the experience and skills needed to continue enjoying and improving their horseback riding skills once the camp finishes.

All-Girls Camp

Girl Scouts that live in Iowa find Camp Sacajawea (girlscoutsiowa.org) a fun, supportive way to experience a horse camp for girls only. Located northwest of Boone, the facility offers equestrian camps for girls according to their grade level in school and their skills and experience with a horse. The camps range from two-day programs to camps lasting six or more days. Each camp helps girls learn how to mount and ride the horses, then shows them how to take care of them with grooming and saddling training.

Beginner Camp

Kids with no horseback riding experience find Bar-L Ranch (barlranchia.com) in Guthrie Center helps them learn all about the sport. The week-long summer camps teach the basics of taking care of a horse. The camp includes at least four hours each day with the horses, with instructors teaching grooming, saddling, bridling, mountain and guiding skills. Each child is assigned a horse of his own to take care of, feed and ride during the camp stay. Kids also learn about the responsibilities, cost, time and effort required to care for a horse at home. Other activities round out the camp experience, including arts and crafts, swimming, hiking, basketball and volleyball. Parents can stay at the Bar-L Ranch bed and breakfast facilities with an onsite dining hall serving home-cooked food. The ranch offers hourly riding opportunities to experienced riders.

Kid Camp

Camp Horse Source (no website: 11196 Iowa 92, Delta; 641-990-6560) offers an equestrian camp for kids 7 to 16 years of age. Located in Delta, the four-day, three-night camps take place from Sunday through Wednesday during the summer. Each camp includes 32 hours of riding and instruction, giving kids a real opportunity to immerse themselves in riding and taking care of a horse. The camp also offers individual riding lessons, group riding sessions and campfire cookouts.

Planning

Most horseback camps require that your child bring cowboy boots with a short heel so their feet stay in the stirrups more easily. Comfortable clothing also comes in handy, especially layers that can be peeled off once the day warms up. Bring plenty of sunscreen and a hat to prevent sunburn from ruining your kid's camp experience.

References

About the Author

Nancy Wagner is a marketing strategist and speaker who started writing in 1998. She writes business plans for startups and established companies and teaches marketing and promotional tactics at local workshops. Wagner's business and marketing articles have appeared in "Home Business Journal," "Nation’s Business," "Emerging Business" and "The Mortgage Press," among others. She holds a B.S. from Eastern Illinois University.

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